Ed Mulholland/US PresswireDevils winger Ilya Kovalchuk is still looking for his 400th goal.

The Devils' best line wasn't the Zach Parise-Adam Henrique-Ilya Kovalchuk line.

It wasn't even Petr Sykora, Patrik Elias and Danius Zubrus.

The line that coach Pete DeBoer kept putting on the ice through 65 scoreless minutes with the Avalanche was Alexei Ponikarovsky, Jacob Josefson and David Clarkson. They were the team's best.

"I thought so," DeBoer said. "The three of them really created a lot of momentum. They spent most of their shifts in the other team's end. I thought they wore the other team down and created a handful of chances, but they were a little unlucky around the net."

Josefson, without a goal in 32 games this season, had several scoring chances. His wrap-around at the left post with 8:23 left in the second period went through the crease and his chance from in front had to be cleared off the goal line by Mark Olver with 7:31 to go in the period.

"We won the game so I can't be disappointed," Josefson said. "But those kind of chances you should put in."

Clarkson added: "It's nice when you're in their zone the whole time. We had those chances, but I don't know if we have to bear down or what. I thought Jo played great tonight. He's been playing great for a while. Poni is so big down low it's hard for guys to get the puck off him. I think as a line we did well and as a team Marty (Brodeur) played unbelievable.

"You always want guys like (Josefson) to score. He's a great kid. He's great in this locker room. He works hard every night."

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Kovalchuk felt Giguere was tired in the shootout.

"In that shootout he was looking real tired at the end," Kovalchuk said.

He praised Parise for making two fakes and then scoring in the shootout.

"I don't think a lot of guys can do that," Kovalchuk said. "Especially after 65 minutes."

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Ryan Carter was chopped on his hand with 10:20 left in the third period, but said there was no damage done.

"Just a stinger," he said.

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Brodeur was asked if he would like to see ties brought back.

"Put it this way: If I'd have lost this one I'd have felt terrible," he said. "A shutout and a loss?"

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The Devils will host the Penguins Saturday afternoon.

"They were the hottest, arguably the best team in the league without (Sidney Crosby)," Parise said.

DeBoer added: "I don't think it's any bigger than the game against the Rangers Monday or going into Ottawa Tuesday."